Love Unbroken (Diamond Creek, Alaska Novels Book 3)

by J. H. Croix

  Inside the unassuming white box lay a beautiful silver ring with a sapphire. Tears tumbled forth, surprising her. She carefully lifted the ring out of the box and held it in her hand. Once it was warm, she slipped it on her finger where it settled in a perfect fit. She heard the door and looked up to find Trey coming out from the kitchen, carrying a warming pan with two omelets in it. His gaze landed on her hand and shifted immediately to her eyes. That current, always between them, quivered with the intensity of his gaze.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said, smiling through the blur of her tears.

  Trey set the warming pan on the table and turned to face her. “We can still wait. However long you need. I’ve been thinking a lot, and I don’t want to waste time without you knowing exactly how important you are to me.”

  Emma shook her head. “We don’t have to wait. All that…” she lifted her hand in a small wave, “…worrying about the right time is over for me. Let’s just let this be what we already know it is.”

  Trey pulled her close and rested his forehead against hers. “Okay then. I love you.”

  She giggled, undone with emotion. “Good thing because I love you too.”

  Trey pulled away, keeping one of her hands in his, his thumb rubbing across the ring. “So how long do I have to wait before you stop making me run back and forth to your house?” he said with a sly smile.

  Epilogue

  Emma leaned down by the garden bed. “Oh wow, Stuart! That cabbage looks well on its way to being record size.” The cabbage in question was gigantic by any measure. But it would have steep competition. The last three record size cabbages came from Alaska, the most recent weighing in at one hundred and thirty-eight pounds. Stuart had spent most of last winter reading about gardening and became determined to try to grow a record size cabbage. Emma eyed the giant cabbage, a far cry from those usually found in the grocery store, and glanced down at Stuart who was rubbing the cabbage with his small hands.

  He grinned up at her. “Cabbie has a few more weeks before the fair, so she’ll be even bigger by then!”

  Trey’s chuckle followed Stuart’s words. Emma turned to find Trey walking to the small garden from the house. He’d returned from a day of flying. His salted black hair was windblown, and his eyes stood out against his tanned skin. He looked delicious in his worn, fitted jeans and the faded black t-shirt that clung to his chest. It was late summer and just about a year since she’d moved in with Trey and Stuart. When she thought back to the fact she’d once thought she should stay out of Trey’s life, she couldn’t ever believe it had crossed her mind. She hadn’t looked back since the day she unpacked her boxes.

  Though she stopped hemming and hawing about being with Trey, she’d turned into a raving lunatic when it came to planning her wedding this past spring. Probably because her first wedding didn’t hold good memories for her. Tess, who was a fundraiser not a wedding planner, gamely stepped in and took over after a girl’s night out when it became obvious Emma was careening toward becoming a caricature of the crazed bride. Tess meticulously organized the wedding and enlisted Hannah, Susie and Risa to keep Emma sane during the process.

  The wedding had been perfect. They’d married on Trey’s boat, anchored in Kachemak Bay, as close as Trey could guess to where they’d first kissed. Seeing as Trey’s boat could only hold six occupants legally, they had been surrounded by three other boats that held family and friends. Only she, Trey, Stuart and the pastor had been on Trey’s boat. She’d removed her life jacket during the brief ceremony, her wedding dress ruffling in the soft breeze.

  Trey knelt down beside Stuart’s beloved cabbage, gave it a pat and Stuart a hug before standing to drop a kiss on her cheek. He carried the scent of the ocean and a tang of spruce on him.

  “So do we have fresh halibut for dinner?” Emma asked as they turned to walk inside, hands loosely clasped. Stuart lingered by his cabbage until Trey called over his shoulder for him to come inside.

  “You have options for dinner: halibut or king salmon. Ran into Jared who had a cooler full and handed a few over. It’s on the small size for a king, but king salmon doesn’t get any better.”

  “How about halibut and king salmon for dinner?” she parried.

  Trey chuckled and swatted her bottom when they walked through the screen door into the kitchen. Hours later, she lounged on the couch, her legs thrown across Trey’s lap while she read a book and he watched the news. He flicked the television off and glanced over. She set her book down while his palm slid up her thigh, lighting a trail of sparks in its wake. The passion between them had only multiplied in the past year. He took her breath away just about every day. Yet again, she lost herself in the heat of his gaze. His palm crested over her abdomen and paused. “You haven’t mentioned how your appointment went today,” he said, an eyebrow lifted.

  Emma giggled. “We agreed we wouldn’t talk about it in front of Stuart yet, so I was waiting.” She paused and took a breath, a wash of emotion cresting inside. “It’s not like I didn’t already know, but it’s not just a fluke on the pregnancy test. I’m pregnant. She thinks I’m about six weeks along.”

  Trey tugged her close for a searing kiss. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers and sighed. She closed her eyes and took a breath. A life she’d written off was happening.

  Thank you for reading Love Unbroken (A Diamond Creek, Alaska Novel)! I hope you enjoyed the story. If so, you can help other readers find my books in a variety of ways.

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  ***

  Diamond Creek Alaska Books

  When Love Comes

  Follow Love

  Love Unbroken

  A note about domestic violence

  Love Unbroken is a love story above all, but its heroine, Emma, only finds her happy ending after escaping a marriage that involved domestic violence. Domestic violence is a social problem of massive proportions. It is estimated that approximately 20 people per minute experience physical abuse by an intimate partner in the United States, which translates to more than 10 million victims per year (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2015). It is devastating and has life-long effects for victims, families and children touched by it. If you or anyone you know has experienced domestic violence (emotional, physical, psychological), there are resources for help.

  The National Domestic Violence Hotline: http://www.thehotline.org

  1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

  National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: http://www.ncadv.org

  Domesticshelters.org: https://www.domesticshelters.org

  National Dating Abuse Hotline (for teens and youth): http://www.loveisrespect.org

  1-866-331-9474

  Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center: www.866uswomen.org

  International Toll-Free (24/7)

  1-866-USWOMEN (879-6636)

  National Child Abuse Hotline/Childhelp: www.childhelp.org

  1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)

  National Sexual Assault Hotline: www.rainn.org

  1-800-656-4673 (HOPE)

  National Center for Victims of Crime: www.victimsofcrime.org

  1-202-467-8700

  Acknowledgements

  A toast to my husband – you stole my heart, you make me laugh every day, and you are still my biggest cheerleader. My mother graciously provides me with free tech support, and she’s as skilled and much nicer than anyone professional I could find. Humble thanks to Laura Kingsley who edits with grace and honesty.

  My readers…wow. Thank you for such fabulous support! Writing the Diamond Creek Novels lets me revisit Alaska in my mind, a place I love dearly. To th
at wild and wonderful place – much gratitude for its simple existence and the amazing friends I found there.

  Author Biography

  J. H. Croix lives in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Along with writing, she’s had an eventful career as a clinical social worker, including a stint in Ivy League academia. Her career in social work has been punctuated by sunrise bush plane flights to Alaskan villages and the occasional standoff with curious moose.

  A voracious reader, Croix has been writing since college and dreamed of writing professionally. The Bestselling Diamond Creek, Alaska Novels are set among the stark beauty of Alaska, where she lived for over a decade, and her love for wildlife and the outdoors bring the stories to life.

  (Excerpt from LOVE UNTAMED by J.H. Croix; all rights reserved)

  Prologue

  One year prior

  The rain came down so hard the windshield wipers could barely keep pace. Susie glanced over at Jared who sat silently in the passenger seat. He was soaked through and yet managed to somehow seem unperturbed. Her emotions, on the other hand, were in turmoil. She tried to tamp them down, but waves of anxiety, fear—and inconvenient desire—crashed inside. Jared had been quiet since they’d dropped off Tess and Nathan at Tess’s hotel. Susie had waited for hours with Hannah, Tess and Emma for the word that Luke, Nathan and Jared were safe. She’d tried to be strong for Hannah and Tess, her friends who were in love with two of the men out on the ocean in the storm.

  She thought back to when Hannah called her early this evening and broke the news that Luke and his brothers hadn’t been heard from and were overdue at the harbor. She’d looked outside and her heart stuttered. Kachemak Bay was barely visible in the heavy rain that fell and the mountains were invisible. Wind blew in window rattling gusts. Storms off the coast of Alaska could be vicious and made more so by the unforgiving conditions. On a perfectly calm day in the summer, the chances of survival in the ocean were slim without quick rescue.

  Susie had done what she always did—tucked her worry away and went into action. As she’d sat with Hannah and Tess, her mind kept turning to Jared. Against every shred of sanity she had, there was an undeniable draw to him and it drove her batty. Jared was exactly the kind of man who would push her over the edge—detail oriented, always together, never messy, always calm—and so damn sexy she could barely look at him sometimes. Knowing he was out there in the wind and rain seemed to have flipped a switch inside. All those feelings she’d managed to keep at bay created an internal tumult.

  Susie had stood in the lashing rain with her friends as the helicopter landed, the whir and whack of its blades swirling the rain around them. Even though she’d personally spoken to the harbormaster and knew the Coast Guard had reported all on board were safe, her heart kicked into gear while she waited for the passengers to disembark from the helicopter. Jared had stepped out after Luke, tall, dark and dripping with water. She hadn’t been able to stop herself from pulling him close for a hug. “You’re soaked. We need to get you dry,” she’d said.

  Jared had pulled back and looked down at her, his piercing green eyes a flash of color in the dark rain. He chuckled. “Dry would be good about now.”

  After a stop at the hospital for Jared, his brothers and the passengers on their guided trip to get cleared, Susie had taken charge of Jared, Tess and Nathan while Emma brought Hannah and Luke home.

  “Damn, this rain isn’t letting up.” Jared’s voice cut through the quiet in the car.

  Susie glanced over. “Definitely not. I’m glad you’re not still out on the water. How are you feeling?”

  Jared shrugged. “Like a drowned rat. I’m relieved the family with us is okay. I was pretty worried about their daughter. By the time the Coast Guard got there, she was shivering so hard, her teeth were chattering.”

  Susie nodded. “Sounds like she’ll be alright.” Tears threatened to spill over. Get a grip. Jared is just Jared. You’re freaking out because he’s your friend. That’s all. She squinted through the rain running down the windshield, trying to ignore her feelings. No matter what she told herself, she’d been scared to death until she knew Jared was safe. And now he was here beside her, she didn’t know what to do with her feelings. To say it was awkward didn’t quite capture it.

  “Is this your road?” she asked. Though she’d been to the house Jared shared with Nathan, it had been awhile. Since Luke moved out, she’d had less of a reason to stop by with Hannah.

  “That’s the one,” he replied.

  When she came to a stop in the drive, Jared looked over, his inscrutable eyes flashing with something she couldn’t define. “Why don’t you come in? Give it a few minutes and see if the rain lets up before you head home.”

  Susie felt her head nodding before she could think. The house was quiet, the rain and wind muted inside. Jared adjusted the thermostat. Only then did Susie realize she was shivering. He turned on the television, said he needed a quick shower and disappeared, leaving her to wonder what the hell she was doing here. She idly flipped through the channels and was about to leave him a note and get out of there when he returned to the living room.

  Her pulse ricocheted. He leaned against the small island separating the kitchen and living room. He’d changed out of his wet clothes into navy sweatpants and a black t-shirt. The soft cotton clung to his fit, muscular build. She didn’t know if he did, but she’d bet money he worked out. Though he lived a life that kept him fit as a commercial fisherman and fishing guide, he hummed with a leashed energy. She couldn’t imagine him being still for too long. She glanced over, carefully keeping her expression bland while her pulse pounded and that inconvenient desire coursed through her.

  Susie stood and walked to the kitchen. “I should go,” she said, her words coming out stilted. She was afraid Jared would pick up on the riot of emotions she felt and knew she needed to get the hell out of there before he noticed anything. This will pass. It’s just because you were afraid he might die. And because your friends were worried and it’s some kind of contagious thing where their worry got stuck to you.

  “What are you shaking your head for?” Jared asked, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

  She looked over at him and wished she didn’t like what she saw so damn much. On top of his deliciously built body that she itched to touch, he had those amazing green eyes, wavy black hair and chiseled features with a full mouth. As both of his brothers did, he also had dimples. So when he flashed that small smile, a dimple came with it. And since when were dimples so sexy? On him, they just added to the package.

  She felt the blush heat her face. She’d shaken her head without a thought passing through. She tried to pass it off. “Oh just relived you’re all okay. It’s not looking like the rain will let up.”

  Jared pushed away from the counter and came to stand in front of her. She could have sworn she felt the heat of his body. His damp curls caught flecks of light. She heard him take a deep breath. Her heart pounded so hard, she was worried he could hear it.

  He swore softly and moved so swiftly it took her by surprise. Since it seemed she’d lost all capacity for clear thought, the only thing that didn’t surprise her was that she couldn’t seem to think straight. All she knew was one minute he stood before her and the next his hand was in her curls. She opened her mouth to say something and his lips landed against hers, his tongue stroking deeply. The desire she’d been trying so hard to keep tamped down roared to life, spiraling through her with such force she was lost.

  Jared kissed masterfully, but then he seemed to do everything well and kissing was no exception. Susie liked to throw herself into things and without thought, she threw herself into this kiss. Every fiber of her strained toward him. One of his hands slipped around her waist, tugging her tight against him. The feel of his muscled body against hers stoked the fire inside of her. Slick heat built in her core. His hand slid down and caressed her bottom, pressing her against his arousal. No surprise, but he was cl
early well-endowed. The length and heat of his hard shaft pressed against her cleft was so delicious, all she wanted was to tear his clothes off and have him inside of her.

  His lips left hers and traveled in a heated and frantic pass down her neck. He tugged at her damp blouse, tearing the top buttons apart. Her breasts were visible, barely restrained in the black lace bra she wore. He muttered an imprecation as he undid the clasp holding her bra together in front. Her breasts spilled out, and Jared wasted no time. His lips closed over a nipple just as his knee shifted between her thighs, pressing against her. He alternated with soft licks and suction. Her nipples peaked to an ache. Her hips moved of their own accord, riding his thigh, desperately seeking release.

  Jared abruptly pulled back and said her name. She opened her eyes into his piercing green gaze. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to do this?” he asked in a whisper.

  She swallowed and shook her head, unable to form words.

  “Too long,” came his raspy answer. His eyes flicked down to her breasts. Her nipples were damp from his attention and pebbled in the cool air. Her breasts were heavy and full. She’d always wished to be thinner, her curves usually just too much. But now, with him looking at her breasts with that heated gaze, she felt so wanted that she wouldn’t change a thing. He cupped her breasts with both hands and leaned forward to lave one nipple and then the other, slowing grinding his thigh against her. She was so wet, she feared he could feel the moisture through her jeans.